Kazimierz Michałowski

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Kazimierz Michałowski
Born(1901-12-14)14 December 1901
Tarnopol, Austria-Hungary
Died1 January 1981(1981-01-01) (aged 79)
Warsaw, Polish People's Republic
NationalityPolish
Alma materUniversity of Lviv
Known forfounder of the Polish school of Mediterranean archaeology, precursor of Nubiology
Scientific career
FieldsArchaeology, art history

Kazimierz Józef Marian Michałowski (December 14, 1901, in

Polish Academy of Sciences, professor ordinarius of the University of Warsaw as well as the founder of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology. He coined the term "Nubiology" to refer to the study of ancient Nubia
.

Biography

Early life and the beginning of scientific career

Kazimierz Michałowski graduated from a gymnasium in Tarnopol and then studied classical archaeology and art history at the Philosophy Department of the

École Française d`Athènes in Delphi, Thasos and Delos. In 1926 he defended his doctoral thesis devoted to Niobids in Greek art, which he prepared at the University of Lwów under the scientific supervision of Edmund Bulanda and which was published a year later in French.[1][2] In 1931 he won his habilitation based on a dissertation about Hellenistic and Roman portraits from Delos, published next year in Paris. Immediately after habilitation he was delegated to the University of Warsaw, where in 1931 he established a Department of Classical Archaeology,[3]
in 1953 transformed into Mediterranean Archaeology Department, which he headed until his retirement in 1972.

In 1936 on his initiative Polish archaeologists from the University of Warsaw started archaeological works in Edfu in Egypt.[4]

World War II

During the war he was imprisoned in the German prisoner-of-war camp

Oflag II-C Woldenburg, where he was sent as a reserve officer and a soldier of the September campaign. In the camp, Michałowski organised educational activities for prisoners, conducted seminars and gave lectures on Egyptology and archaeology.[5] In 1978 he reported that no one who had studied Egyptology in the prisoner of war camp had taken it up post-war as a discipline.[citation needed
]

Activity after World War II

After World War II Michałowski took active part in the reconstruction of Polish culture and science. Since 1939 he had been a deputy director of the National Museum in Warsaw, initially responsible for organisation of the Gallery of Ancient Art opened to the public in 1949, and next for the Faras Gallery, which was opened in 1972. He organised numerous exhibitions displaying historical objects obtained during excavations he headed. In 1945-1947 he was a Dean of the Department of Humanities of the University of Warsaw and later a pro-rector of this same university (1947 – 1948). We was a visiting professor in Alexandria (1957-1958) and Aberdeen (1971). In 1956 he established the Research Centre for Mediterranean Archaeology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, which he headed. In 1960 he organised an opening of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw with quarters in Cairo, which he headed until his death. He regarded the opening of this facility as his greatest achievement.[5]

Honoris Causa Doctorate at the universities of Strasbourg (1965), Cambridge (1971), Uppsala (1977).[6]

Popularising activity

Kazimierz Michałowski was an active promoter of Mediterranean archaeology. He translated and published W.H. Boulton's The Romance of Archaeology (1958) as well as publicising the results of excavation works in Edfu. He wrote for

National Museum in Warsaw. He gave numerous lectures and conducted seminars devoted to antiquity, whose social effect consisted of an impressive increase of interest in this discipline. 5000 students attended his public lecture on the art of ancient Egypt in the National Museum in Warsaw in 1957.[citation needed
]

Personal life

The grandfather of Kazimierz Michałowski was Emil Michałowski, a representative to the Diet of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria and a director of the Teacher's University in Tarnopol as well as the mayor of this town.[7] After World War II Michałowski married Krystyna Baniewicz, a daughter of Tadeusz Baniewicz, one of the founders of Podkowa Leśna. Krystyna Michałowska became engaged in her husband's activity – in later years the Baniewicz's villa in Podkowa Leśna was the seat of the Research Centre for Mediterranean Archeology Polish Academy of Science. Professor Michałowski's grave is located in a nearby cemetery in Brwinów.

Excavations

Professor Michałowski conducted excavations in Egypt since the 1930s, and from 1959 on behalf of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archeology of the University of Warsaw, of which he was the founder and first director.[8]

Edfu

According to Professor Michałowski "not only in the view of the scientific world but also in a broader opinion of a civilised society, the current cultural level of a given country is judged based on whether it has its own excavations in Egypt".[4] On his initiative in 1936 archaeological works were started in Edfu and lasted till 1939. The expedition was accompanied by archaeologists from the University of Warsaw and the French Institute for Eastern Archaeology. These were the first excavations with participation of Polish archaeologists in the Mediterranean area. The works were performed on the pharaohs’ necropolis as well as in the ancient city of the Greek-Roman and Byzantian period.[9] The number and artistic quality of historical monuments obtained during the first campaign (1936) enabled the organisation of an exhibition in the Gallery of Ancient Art in the National Museum in Warsaw, which was opened already in June 1937.

Myrmekion

Polish archaeologists’ participation in the excavations in Edfu turned the interest of the world of science to the Polish scholars and provided an opportunity for commencement of further excavations abroad. Michałowski started collaboration with Soviet archaeologists in Crimea. In July 1956 a group of Polish archaeologists started exploration works in

Leningrad State University. A wine press with complete equipment from the Hellenistic period was discovered as well as fragments of residential buildings.[9]
All moveable historical objects discovered by the Polish expedition were transferred to Warsaw upon the consent of the Soviet archaeological office.

Tell Atrib

Professor Michałowski wanted to continue the works in Egypt after World War II. He was able to resume the exploration of

Ahmose temple, a deposit, furnaces for limestone and Roman baths.[9]

Palmyra

Kazimierz Michałowski on excavation site in Palmyra, 1962

On 4 May 1959 a group of Polish archaeologists headed by Professor Michałowski started excavation works in

Studia Palmyreńskie
" has been published in Warsaw and is still published today. Polish archaeologists became experts in the exploration of ancient Palmyra.

Alexandria

Excavations on Kom el-Dikka in Alexandria began in 1960.[10] Polish archaeologists comprised the first foreign mission which managed to obtain a permit for exploration of Alexandria. Groups of Italian, English and German scientists worked for the Greek-Roman Museum in Alexandria or they represented it. It is difficult to work on this area since in the 1740s Muhammad Ali mandated that a city be constructed here. The relics of the past remain hidden under a modern development. Monumental Roman baths with numerous swimming pools and cisterns as well as a Roman villa were discovered there. Polish archaeologists revealed also the first theatre to have been discovered in Egypt. This discovery was so sensational that Professor Michałowski received additional funds from the municipal authorities, enabling continuation of works. The ancient theatre was fully revealed and reconstructed. Today it is one of the greatest attractions in Alexandria and is used to stage performances. This is how an ancient building was successfully preserved in a contemporary development. Polish archaeologists explored also two Arabic necropolises on the area of Kom el-Dikka.

Deir el-Bahari

The works were started in 1961 on the request of the Egyptian minister of culture who was determined to reconstruct the

temple of Queen Hatshepsut. In 1968 engineers from the State Studios for Conservation of Cultural Property joined archaeologists to perform construction-restoration works in this temple. When working on this commission Professor Michałowski discovered a previously unknown funerary temple of Thutmose III (already during the first campaign). In consequence most of exploration works were moved to this site. The temple was unique due to its location and layout which differed from other sacral buildings of the New Kingdom period. The works are continued to this day.[11]

Faras

Kazimierz Michałowski during the excavations at Faras
Excavations at Faras

National Museum in Warsaw.[13] Remaining historical objects discovered in Faras are contained within the holdings of the National Museum of Sudan
in Khartoum.

Dongola

Professor Michałowski started excavations in Old Dongola in 1964. Since 1966 the works were headed by Stefan Jakobielski.[14] Kings of the joined Nubian kingdoms resided in the Dongola from the 8th to the early 13th century. A central nave of the church with columns preserved in situ was discovered already in the first weeks of the works. Scientific writing refers to this discovery as the "church of the columns". Grave inscriptions found in the church suggested it dated back to the 2nd half of the 8th century.[9] Column capitals revealed in the sacral buildings are stylistically similar to those discovered in the Faras cathedral. Additionally, older foundations of a sacral building were discovered under the "church of the columns". The second building based on the cruciform plan was also explored as well as a mosque which turned out to be erected on a former royal palace and not (as previously assumed) on a Christian temple. Polish archaeologists discovered also a baptistery. Since 1966 a Polish expedition was performing parallel prehistoric excavations in the vicinity the village of Gaddar.

Abu Simbel

Professor Michałowski did not excavate in Abu Simbel but along with a team of Polish archaeologists he took part in the salvaging of rock temples of Pharaoh Ramesses II, which were at risk of being flooded with the waters of Lake Nasser. The project involved also archaeologists from other countries such as Italy and France. One of the ideas for salvaging the temples was to move them to a place of safety. Another idea was the leave them in place. UNESCO established a special commission to deal with this issue. The commission consisted of the Director-General of UNESCO, the chairperson of the advisory board and three expert – archaeologists. Professor Michałowski was one of them. They supported a Swedish-Egyptian idea consisting in cutting the temples into large, 30-tonne blocks in order to reconstruct them in a new location.[9] Professor Michałowski was appointed a chairperson of the 7-people international expert committee supervising the relocation of Pharaoh Ramesses II's temples. The works lasted 10 years and were crowned with success.

Nea Paphos

In June 1965 a Polish archaeological expedition headed by Professor Michałowski started excavation works in

proconsul's palace with private baths. A mosaic presenting Theseus wrestling Minotaur in a labyrinth was discovered in this building. Ariadne
and a woman symbolising Crete are watching the fight. This mosaic is regarded as the most beautiful decoration of this type in the Mediterranean area. Polish excavations proved that Nea Paphos was a political centre of the island. The works initiated by Professor Michałowski are continued by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology University of Warsaw in honour of Professor Kazimierz Michałowski.

Distinctions, rewards and recognition

In 1947 Michałowski was awarded

the 1st Class Order of the Builders of People's Poland. He was also a winner of the 1st and 2nd Degree State Award. In addition he also received the following distinctions: 1st Class Order of the Banner of Work, 5th Class Virtuti Military Cross (for the 1939 campaign), Gold Cross of Merit. He was also awarded in Egypt and Syria as well as in France (Officer's Cross and Commander's Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour), Italy (Commander's Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy), Greece (Commander's Cross of the Order of the Phoenix), Belgium (Grand Officer's Cross of the Order of Leopold
).

His name was given to the

Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw and the Faras Gallery in the National Museum in Warsaw.[15] In 2001 Polish Post issued 200 thousand copies of a postcard dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Professor Michałowski's birthday. The postcard presented a nave of the Faras Cathedral and the portrait of Professor Michałowski himself. The bust of Professor Michałowski is exhibited in the gardens of the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo and numerous souvenirs related to Professor are stored in the holdings of the Museum of Warsaw University. The Professor's name was also given to streets in Częstochowa, Malbork
and Słupsk.

In 2015 Public Middle School in Podkowa Leśna was named after Professor Michałowski.

Selected publications

Kazimierz Michałowski in front of wall paintings from Faras, 1960s

Books

  • Fouilles franco-polonaises. Tell Edfou (1938)
  • Sztuka starożytna (1955)
  • Kanon w architekturze egipskiej (1955)
  • Fouilles polonaises, kilka tomów (od 1960)
  • Nie tylko piramidy. Sztuka dawnego Egiptu (1966)
  • Faras. Centre artistique de la Nubie chretienne (1966)
  • Art of Ancient Egypt (1969)
  • Arte y civilizacion de Egipto (1969)
  • Karnak (1969)
  • Luksor (1971)
  • Aleksandria (1972)
  • Piramidy i mastaby (1972)
  • Teby (1974) (wspólne z A.Dziewanowskim)
  • Od Edfu do Faras. Polskie odkrycia archeologii śródziemnomorskiej (1974)
  • Egypte (1978)
  • Delfy (1979)
  • Wybór prac Opera Minora (1990)

Articles

  • "Les Niobides dans l'art plastique grec de la seconde moitié du Vème siecle", Eos, vol. XXX 1927, pp. 175–193.
  • "Ein Niobekopf aus den Sammlungen des Fürsten Radziwiłł in Nieborów", AA 1927, pp. 58–70.
  • "Zum Sarkophag aus S. Constanza", RM, XLIII, 1928, pp. 132–146.
  • "Virgile et les beaux arts", Eos, XXXIII, 1930, pp. 43–58.
  • "Un portrait égyptien d'Auguste au Musée du Caire", Bull. de l'Inst.Français au Caire 1935, pp. 73–88.
  • "La fin de l'art grec", BCH, 1946, pp. 385–392.
  • "Les expositions itinérantes dans les musées de Pologne", Museum, vol. III no. 4, 1950, pp. 275–282.
  • "Rapport sur la prospection du terrain dans la région de la mosquée de Nabi Daniel en 1958", Bull. de la Fac. de Droit – Université d'Alexandrie, vol. XIII, 1958, pp. 37–43.
  • "Kalos Limen", EAA IV, Roma 1961, pp. 304–305.
  • "Les fouilles archéologiques et l'art antique au Musée National de Varsovie", Bull. Mus. Nat. de Varsovie, III 1962, pp. 62–63.
  • "Peintures chrétiennes du VIIe s. à Faras", ibid., pp. 3–8.
  • "Palmira", EAA vol. V, Roma 1963, pp. 900–908.
  • "La Nubie chrétienne", Africana Bulletin 3, 1965, pp. 9–26.
  • "Archéologie méditerranéenne en Pologne aprés la seconde guerre mondiale", Études et Travaux, vol. I, 1966, pp. 5–22.
  • "Algérie — la modernisation des musées en Algérie",
    Le Courrier de l'Unesco
    , Mai 1966, pp. 1–45, annexe, pp. 34–45.
  • "Les deux Asclepios de Nea Paphos", RA, 1968 no. 2, pp. 355–358.
  • "Polish Excavations in Old Dongola 1964", Kush, vol. XIV 1969, pp. 289–299.
  • "Open Problems of Nubian Art and Culture in the Light of the Discoveries at Faras", in Kunst und Geschichte Nubiens in christlicher Zeit, Recklinghausen 1970, pp. 11–20.
  • "Classification générale des peintures murales de Faras", in Mélanges Devambez (RA 1972 z.2) pp. 375–380.
  • "Tell Atrib", EAA VIII Supplemento, Roma 1973, pp. 799–800.
  • "Ancient Egyptian Visual Arts", Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. XV (1974), pp. 248–258.
  • "Nouvelles recherches sur la topographie de Palmyre", in Mélanges d'histoire ancienne et d'archéologie offerts à Paul Collart (Cahiers d'Archéologie Romande 5), 1975, pp. 305–306.
  • "Les fouilles archéologiques polonaises en Afrique", Africana Bulletin, vol. 25, 1976 (1978), pp. 13–26.
  • "Études sur les tendances actuelles dans la pratique de fouilles archéologiques. Suggestions et idées générales pour l'établissement des 'musées-sites'", Rocznik MNW, vol. XXIV 1980, pp. 345–355.

See also

References

  1. ^ Bernhard, Marie-Louise (1982). "Kazimierz Michałowski". Eos. 70: 5.
  2. ^ Godlewski, Włodzimierz (1982). "Kazimierz Michałkowski 1901-1981". Muzealnictwo. 25: 123.
  3. ^ "- Instytut Archeologii Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego". www.archeo.uw.edu.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b Michałowski, Kazimierz (1983). Od Edfu do Faras. Wydawnictwa Artystyczne i Filmowe. p. 18.
  5. ^
    ISSN 0066-605X
    .
  6. ^ a b c Lorentz, Stanisław (1981). "In memoriam". Rocznik Muzeum Narodowego W Warszawie.
  7. ^ web4you.net.pl. "Cracovia Leopolis - historia i kultura Lwowa oraz Małopolski Wschodniej". www.cracovia-leopolis.pl. Retrieved 9 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Mission statement". pcma.uw.edu.pl. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e Michałowski, Kazimierz (1974). Od Edfu do Faras. Wydawnictwa Artystyczne i Filmowe.
  10. ^ "Alexandria, Kom el-Dikka". pcma.uw.edu.pl. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Deir el-Bahari, Temple of Hatshepsut". pcma.uw.edu.pl. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  12. ^ "GALERIA FARAS. SKARBY ZATOPIONEJ PUSTYNI - Google Arts & Culture". Google Cultural Institute (in Polish). Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology UW: 100th birth anniversary of K. Michałowski". www.pcma.uw.edu.pl. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Dongola". pcma.uw.edu.pl. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  15. ^ Warszawie, Muzeum Narodowe w. "Galeria Faras / Galerie stałe / Kolekcje / Muzeum Narodowe". www.mnw.art.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2017.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kazimierz_Michałowski&oldid=1218669229"